Week 2--Emotional Week! :-(

I sprained my ankle about three weeks ago playing softball.  I spent the first evening in the ER and the next several days on the couch with a lot of ice application and elevation.  The following week I used crutches to maneuver around school and anywhere else I had to go (for the record, I hate crutches).  I eventually graduated to a walking boot and was able to leave the crutches behind.  For my three week recheck, I decided to see a sports injury specialist instead of my general orthopedic doctor.  Well, that's where the drama begins...

While discussing the ankle sprain with the specialist, he began manipulating my ankle and leg to see for himself how well I had been healing.  He noticed some movement and pain just below my knee and decided to send me downstairs for an x-ray of my knee.  Upon returning upstairs and viewing the x-rays it is noted that I have a fracture at the head of my fibula, just below my knee.  The doctor explains that it is a "good" fracture, because the "bad" one would require surgery.  This fracture only requires a full leg cast.  I'm not sure that this would constitute "good" in my book, but I don't seem to have a choice and it definitely is better than the alternative (surgery).  I immediately began using my crutches again and I return on Monday afternoon for a full leg (above the knee) cast.  The cast will remain on for a minimum of four weeks, depending upon how well/quickly I heal.

I know I have been missing in action for the last several days, so I thought I'd give you a quick look at why.  Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers and I'll keep you all posted.  :-) 


Thanks My Full Sail Family!!

Week 1--Show What You Know Project

 

Week 1--Blog Response to Joann Stegner

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

New course, new POV

I must admit, I disliked blogging in the last class in which it was a requirement. I am really not sure why- I like to write- but it just never gelled for me.

I did, however, revisit the idea of blogging after losing my job at the end of the last school year. I thought I would chronicle the ups and downs of my lack of job, talk about the new and exciting things I would encounter and boast about my new accomplishments. I would fill the pages with salsa lessons, daily musings and funny anecdotes. I think I actually managed to write a paragraph once or twice and it consisted of me complaining and moaning about emotional drudgery. I have a difficult enough time sounding interesting in one line on Twitter- I couldn't possibly blog about my life- or lack there of.

So here we go again.

I decided not to re-purpose my last blog but start a new one. It will be chock full of fresh and new ideas, brilliant insight and astute observations. Words will flow from my mind, through my fingers and dance onto the page. I will be clever and captivating.

What does this have to do with anything in class?

Nothing, but every blog has to start somewhere.

Welcome.

Week 1--Blog Response to Amy White

thursday, october 1, 2009

Week1: Digging Back into Blogging

I am excited to start blogging again; particularly when there aren't so many rules attached to it. I enjoyed expressing my thoughts, but the format was too structured in our last graduate class so I didn't really enjoy it. It felt really stressful. I have been reading over the info in FSO and I'm looking forward to all what this class has to offer. I feel like we'll finally get some time to explore all the things we've only had time to glance at as we hurried by. So, I hope to get my hands dirty and dig into all the great stuff out in the www. Here's to a great month!!

Week 1--Thesis Idea and Helping Each Other

Bullying, specifically cyberbullying is my current thesis topic.  My goal is to create an e-learning lesson providing sensitivity training about bullying and cyberbullying for educators.  I feel that it is important to approach this subject from a variety of sides.  I will address the sides of the victim, the bully, the bystander, and the authority.  For each of these sides, I will define and explain bullying, how it leads to cyberbullying, and suggest possible solutions to the problem of bullying.  

I'd like to know more about everyone's thesis idea and how it's coming along for you.  I think we can really help each other this month by being patient and encouraging to one another.  I know that I need assistance with accountability and some help in the area of time-management.  I want everyone to know how thankful I am for everyone in my group at Full Sail.  I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some of you very well and I can't wait to meet you all face to face in February at graduation.

Week 1--Reading: TV Reality Shows

What a great way to start a book!!! I have just started reading Henry Jenkins' book Convergence Culture and I am intrigued by the first couple chapters. I find it interesting the number of people that follow reality television shows and spend a multitude of time trying to figure out the show before it even begins. I may not be one of these analytical viewers, but I will admit that I am completely sucked into the world of reality TV. I am a consistent viewer and supporter of American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Hell's Kitchen, and Survivor. I never thought that I would get this involved in any television program, especially one that deals with the lives of other people.

I find that the discussion of reality TV is everywhere, including my classroom. We were having a class meeting the other day and one of my students began talking about Survivor and making predictions about what was going to happen on the next episode. This opened an entire conversation about the show, both past and present, and everyone's opinions about each team and member, who should stay, who should go, feelings about everyone's integrity or lack thereof, etc. It was amazing. My students were predicting, analyzing, summarizing, inferring, comparing and contrasting, explaining about cause and effect, and just generally comprehending the show. I never recognized the connection to reading skills that this type of discussion could bring before, but I will be using this in the future with my students for engaging activities. They didn't even realize the skills they were using until I attached labels to each skill. This may be a breakthrough...especially for my reading students.

Week 1--Missing My Summer Job

This is a video describing my summer job. It was only a seven week position and I miss it terribly. I learned so much about myself this past summer and I'm hopeful that it will lead me in new directions in the future.